Method and device for ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Abstract

A method and apparatus for ambulatory intraperitoneal dialysis, comprising at least two containers one filled with unused dialysis fluid and one empty, each container being provided with flow regulating means and with a connecting tube ending in a Y-shaped junction whose common branch is connected to a third tube, provided at its free end with a sterile needle. The needle is inserted in a second Y-shaped junction having two branches each containing two membranes which form therebetween a sterilizing liquid chamber. The common channel of the second Y-shaped junction is connected to an external portion of an intraperitoneal catheter. By appropriate positioning of the containers and operation of the regulating means, used solution may be drained and fresh solution introduced.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for ambulatory intraperitoneal dialysis of a patient in need of such treatment comprising at least two container means, said container means being suitable for containing sterile dialysis fluid, at least one of said container means being filled with unused dialysis fluid, and another of said container means being empty; tubing means connected to each of said container means; a first junction means connected to the other end of said tubing means, said first junction means having at least two channels; flow regulating means interposed between each of said container means and said first junction means; a single common tubing means connected to said first junction means, said common tubing means having at its other end and connected thereto a hollow sterile piercing means; a second junction means, having at least two channels; said channels capable of accepting said piercing means; said channels having two membranes, said membranes being sealably piercable by said piercing means; said two membranes forming a sealed chamber in each of said channels; said chamber having a longitudinal dimension less than the longitudinal dimension of said piercing means; said chamber therein containing a sterilizing or antiseptic medium, said second junction means having a common channel connected to an external portion of a substantially intraperitoneal catheter. 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said container means are bags and said bags are made of atoxic flexible plastic material. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said flexible plastic material is selected from a group consisting of films of vinyl chloride polymers, films of olefinic homopolymers, films of olefinic copolymers, and of laminates comprising: a film of polyethylene with a small amount of butylene, a film of polyamide-6 and a film of polypropylene with a small amount of ethylene; a film of polyethylene with a small amount of butylene, a film of polyamide-6 and a film of polypropylene without ethylene; a film of polyethylene with a small amount of butylene and a film of polypropylene with a small amount of ethylene; and a film of polyethylene with a small amount of butylene and polypropylene without ethylene. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second junction means are "Y" shaped tubes. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said common tubing means connected to said first junction means has at its end means for lockably accepting said hollow piercing means. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hollow piercing means is a sterile needle, said needle being protected before use by a plastic material cap. 
     
     
       7. A method of intraperitoneal dialysis of a patient in need of such treatment comprising the steps of: I. providing at least two container means one filled with fresh dialysis solution and one empty, (a) interconnecting each container means through separate tubing means to a first junction means,   (b) interposing fluid flow controlling means between each of said container means and said first junction means,   (c) providing said first junction means with a common tubing means connected thereto,   (d) providing said common tubing means on its free end with a sterile hollow puncturing means,   (e) connecting said common tubing means to a closed intraperitoneal catheter by puncturing a pair of sealably puncturable membranes located in the channels of a second junction means, said membranes having between them a reservoir of sterilizing or antiseptic solution;     II, emptying the peritoneum of said patient of used dialysis solution by (a) closing the fluid flow controlling means interposed between said container filled with fresh dialysis solution and said first junction means,   (b) opening the fluid flow controlling means interposed between said empty container means and said first junction means,   (c) lowering said empty container means below the level of said intraperitoneal catheter and filling said empty container means with said used dialysis solution;     III, and filling the peritoneum of said patient by, (a) closing said fluid flow controlling means interposed between the container now filled with used dialysis solution,   (b) opening said fluid flow controlling means interposed between the container filled with fresh dialysis solution,   (c) raising said container filled with fresh dialysis solution above the level of the intraperitoneal catheter and filling the peritoneum of said patient with fresh dialysis solution.     
     
     
       8. The method of claim 7 wherein at the conclusion of filling the peritoneum of said patient, disconnecting said common tubing means from said intraperitoneal catheter and permitting the patient to move about unencumbered by the dialysis apparatus used during the period of intraperitoneal dialysis.